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Warning: Politics Ahead
Nov. 19th, 2003 12:33 pmEver wonder why the Republican party has a religious right component to it?
This shift occured historically, as I understand it, around the time of LBJ's presidency when Texas Democrats realized they were actually Republicans and there was a massive shift from one party to the other. Because the Republicans in Texas were mainly being organized by Christian fundies (because they're good at organizing) they ended up becoming the leaders of the party and becoming powerhouses. This influence has since spread to encompass the rest of the party affiliates across the nation.
So what we're essentially looking at in American politics today is the culmination of several decades of power base building on the part of the fundies, ending in the de facto assumption of two of the branches of government. It's only now a matter of time before the third one follows, as judges die off and get replaced, unless something is done by the opposition party or by the people in the Republican party who don't agree with the fundie platform.
What really, really bothers me is that we are looking at control of one of the two major political parties by a minority group within it. Christian fundamentalism does not represent the will of the majority of the American people. I'll begrudge any tyranny, be it of the minority or majority. I do not want my laws written based on religious principle. We do not live in a theocracy, and my hope is that America never becomes one. Theocracy cannot be a basis for rational governance, and having a religious party in power, even if its core values represent a majority of the country, cannot be just and does not allow for the core American principle of religious freedom.
So what can be done about this? Well - I'm going to register as a Democrat and start voting Democrat as much as my conscience will let me. I don't really agree with the principles of the Democratic party as a whole, but I can't see any other way to reduce the power of the Republican party.
This shift occured historically, as I understand it, around the time of LBJ's presidency when Texas Democrats realized they were actually Republicans and there was a massive shift from one party to the other. Because the Republicans in Texas were mainly being organized by Christian fundies (because they're good at organizing) they ended up becoming the leaders of the party and becoming powerhouses. This influence has since spread to encompass the rest of the party affiliates across the nation.
So what we're essentially looking at in American politics today is the culmination of several decades of power base building on the part of the fundies, ending in the de facto assumption of two of the branches of government. It's only now a matter of time before the third one follows, as judges die off and get replaced, unless something is done by the opposition party or by the people in the Republican party who don't agree with the fundie platform.
What really, really bothers me is that we are looking at control of one of the two major political parties by a minority group within it. Christian fundamentalism does not represent the will of the majority of the American people. I'll begrudge any tyranny, be it of the minority or majority. I do not want my laws written based on religious principle. We do not live in a theocracy, and my hope is that America never becomes one. Theocracy cannot be a basis for rational governance, and having a religious party in power, even if its core values represent a majority of the country, cannot be just and does not allow for the core American principle of religious freedom.
So what can be done about this? Well - I'm going to register as a Democrat and start voting Democrat as much as my conscience will let me. I don't really agree with the principles of the Democratic party as a whole, but I can't see any other way to reduce the power of the Republican party.